Supporting Young Minds as They Grow

These organizations offer resources and information on child and adolescent mental health that you may find helpful.

Active Minds
Active Minds empowers students and young adults to speak openly about mental health. The organization provides peer-led programs, educational campaigns, and advocacy to reduce stigma and foster supportive communities for youth.

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry offers trusted guidance on child and adolescent mental health for families, educators, and clinicians. AACAP’s public resources cover a broad range of conditions, treatment options, and strategies for supporting youth well-being.

Association for Autism and Neurodiversity
AANE provides educational programs, support groups, and resources for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. The organization emphasizes neurodiversity and practical strategies to navigate school, social, and family challenges.

Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health
ACAMH is dedicated to advancing knowledge and best practice in child and adolescent mental health. This UK-based organization offers accessible blogs, topic guides, podcasts, and research resources covering a broad range of youth mental health conditions and challenges.

Children and Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
CHADD delivers education, advocacy, and peer support for children, teens, and adults living with ADHD. Its resources include parent guidance, youth programming, and strategies to support academic and social success.

Child Mind Institute
The Child Mind Institute provides accessible resources for families, caregivers, and educators about childhood mental health and learning disorders. The organization focuses on evidence-based guidance and strategies to promote resilience and well-being.

National Child Traumatic Stress Network
NCTSN works to improve care and outcomes for children and adolescents exposed to trauma. The organization offers education, practical resources for families and providers, and tools to support recovery and resilience in young people.

The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project offers crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ youth. Alongside its 24/7 helpline, it provides educational resources, advocacy, and peer support programs that prioritize safety and affirmation.

Understood
Understood helps parents and educators support children with learning and attention differences. The organization offers practical tools, expert guidance, and community forums designed to make learning, communication, and daily life more manageable.

From toolkits to podcasts and more, here are a few of the great online resources available to learn more about child and adolescent mental health.

Emotional Well‑Being Resources – Sesame Workshop
Engage with videos, activities, and storybooks that help children recognize emotions, practice coping skills, and build social‑emotional resilience.

Parents and Caregivers Resources – DBSA
Access expert guidance on supporting children and teens with mood disorders, spotting warning signs, and navigating care options.

ASK Program – Active Minds
Learn how young people can provide peer support, acknowledge challenges, and stay connected to help friends manage stress and mental health concerns.

LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health Survey – The Trevor Project
Explore data on the mental health experiences of LGBTQ+ youth worldwide to understand trends, disparities, and support needs.

Magination Press – American Psychological Association
Browse a collection of books on mental health topics written specifically for kids and teens, covering emotions, anxiety, resilience, trauma, and more.

Teachers and Coaches Resources – Kids Mental Health Foundation
Discover curated articles, activities, and conversation starters to help students thrive emotionally and socially in classrooms and sports settings.

Teen-to-Teen School Mental Health Resources – Nexus for Schools
Access evidence‑based strategies and professional learning modules that support student mental, emotional, and behavioral health in school environments.

Nixie and Nimbo Learning Videos – Child Mind Institute
Watch short, animated videos designed to help young children build emotional regulation and coping skills, using simple, engaging stories that support attention, flexibility, and everyday self-management.

From evidence-based perspectives to lived-experience memoirs, this selection of books is a great starting point if you want to expand your understanding of child and adolescent mental health.

The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies To Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind
by Daniel J. Siegel, MD, and Tina Payne Bryson

Parents and caregivers will find practical, research-backed guidance in this book for helping children manage emotions, develop resilience, and strengthen parent-child relationships. Siegel and Bryson translate neuroscience into 12 strategies parents can use daily to support healthy thinking and emotional growth.

What To Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety, Second Edition
by Dawn Huebner, PhD

This workbook teaches children ages 6-12 and their caregivers how to use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to understand worry, practice coping strategies, and gradually face fears. Relatable examples and interactive exercises make this book an accessible tool for children working to manage anxiety.

The Joy of Parenting: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Guide to Effective Parenting in the Early Years
by Lisa W. Coyne, PhD, and Amy R. Murrell, PhD

Using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) principles, this guide helps parents respond to the emotional challenges of early childhood with flexibility and mindfulness. Practical strategies encourage connection, foster emotional regulation, and support overall well-being for both children and caregivers.

Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction
by David Sheff

Sheff recounts his family’s real-life experience with their teen’s substance use, offering insight into the emotional toll of addiction and the complexities of recovery. Suitable for parents, caregivers, and older teens, the memoir highlights both the son’s lived experience and the parent’s perspective on support and healing.

Find Your Fierce: How To Put Social Anxiety in Its Place
by Jacqueline Sperling, PhD

In this teen-focused guide, Sperling draws on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP) techniques to help readers recognize and manage social anxiety. Practical exercises empower teens and young adults to navigate social situations with confidence and reframe anxious thoughts into actionable strategies.

Helping Teens Who Cut: Using DBT Skills to End Self-Injury
by Michael Hollander, PhD

Designed for parents, caregivers, and mental health professionals, this guide focuses on helping teens stop cutting and other forms of self-injury using dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Hollander presents practical DBT skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress, and reducing self-harm urges, along with clear strategies for safety planning and building long-term emotional resilience.

I’ve Never Been (Un)Happier
by Shaheen Bhatt

Blending personal narrative and reflection, Bhatt offers teens and young adults a window into depression, societal expectations, and identity. Her candid memoir provides insight into mental health challenges and offers a relatable perspective for readers navigating similar struggles.

The Kids’ Guide to Staying Awesome and In Control, Second Edition
by Lauren Brukner

Children ages 7 and older can use this book to develop resilience, emotional regulation, and coping skills through sensory-based strategies. Interactive prompts and illustrations make the techniques in this book practical for managing stress and mood in everyday life.

Stuff That’s Loud: A Teen’s Guide to Unspiraling When OCD Gets Noisy
by Ben Sedley, PhD, and Lisa W. Coyne, PhD

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) can feel overwhelming, but this workbook gives teens tools grounded in cognitive behavioral techniques to regain control. The book teaches ways to reduce compulsions, challenge intrusive thoughts, and apply structured strategies for daily life.

Guts
by Raina Telgemeier

Through her graphic memoir, Telgemeier shares her personal experiences with childhood anxiety, showing how worry affects both body and mind. Middle-grade readers will connect with her humor, honesty, and relatable coping strategies as she normalizes the emotional challenges of growing up.